Smell is an ancient and complex sense essential for food detection, prey and predator recognition, reproduction and other intraspecies communication. Tens of thousands of different chemicals can be detected and distinguished by the olfactory system. Several olfactory receptor gene families, both small and large, contribute to the detection of odors. Monogenic expression and axonal convergence serve to generate a receptor map in the olfactory bulb. Labeled line as well as combinatorial coding of odors is observed.
To understand the perception of odors, it is essential to identify the various receptor repertoires, reveal the ligand spectra of individual olfactory receptors, understand the activation of receptors by their ligands, analyse the modification of the odor response by the circuitry of the olfactory bulb and higher brain centers, and examine the generation of behavior by these neural circuits. We employ an array of bioinformatic, molecularbiological, genetic, physiological and behavioral methods to study these questions, often using zebrafish as a vertebrate model system.
sigrun.korsching@uni-koeln.de
1995 - present | Professor at the Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany. |
1988 - 1995 | Junior Group Leader, Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany. |
1986 - 1988 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. |
1985 - 1986 | Research Associate, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München, Germany. |
1984 - 1985 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München, Germany. |
2020 – present | Beirat des Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultätentags (MNFT), Fachvertreter Biologie |
2013 – 2020 | EURON (European Graduate School for Neurosciences) local coordinator for Cologne |
2009 - 2011 | President of the German Neuroscience Society (NWG) |
2007 - 2009 | Vice President of the German Neuroscience Society (NWG) |
1998 | Top ranking grant as co-applicant in a Human Frontier Science Program Research Grant. |
1988 | George and Edna Lièvre Fellowship Award of the American Heart Association. |
1985 | Otto-Hahn-Medal of the Max-Planck-Society. |
1996 | Habilitation in "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology" by the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Germany. |
1994 | Laboratory course "Imaging Structure and Function in the Nervous System", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, NY, USA. |
1984 | Thesis, summa cum laude. |
1982 | Lecture course "Developmental Neurobiology" at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, NY, USA. |
1981 - 1983 | Graduate studies at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, Martinsried, Germany, thesis advisor Prof. Hans Thoenen. |
1980 | Diploma in Chemistry und Biochemistry (highest possible grade). |
1979 - 1980 | Undergraduate thesis at the Max-Planck-Institut for Psychiatry, Martinsried, Germany, scientific advisor Prof. Hans Thoenen. |
1974 - 1979 | Classes in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Ludwigs-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. |
1974 | Entrance examination for the University at the Willi-Graf-Gymnasium in Munich with highest possible grades. |
Society for Neuroscience, USA |
German Neuroscience Society (Neurowissenschaftliche Gesellschaft, NWG) |
The European Chemoreception Research Organisation (ECRO) |
2017 - present | Vice Dean for Gender, Diversity and Young Academics |
2015 - 2017 | Editorial Board 'Scientific Reports' |
2015 - 2017 | Member of the Inner Faculty of the Natural Sciences Faculty of the University at Cologne |
2014 | Editorial Board 'Chemical Senses' |
2014 - present | Acting Speaker, Graduate Program GRK 1960 'Neural Circuit Analysis on the cellular and subcellular level |
2013 - present | EURON (European Graduate School for Neurosciences) local coordinator for Cologne |
2013 | Organizer of the Cologne Spring Meeting 2013 'Neural circuits: Development, Function and Degeneration' |
2011 | Scientific Organizer and Program Committee chair of the 9th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society |
2008 - 2015 | Advisory board member, Priority Program 1392, Integrative analysis of olfaction, German Research Foundation |
1997 - 2002 | Member of the Inner Faculty of the Natural Sciences Faculty of the University at Cologne |
1997 - 2001 | Acting speaker of the Graduate Program GRK 296 'Genetics of Cellular Systems'. |
1995 | Organizer of the 'Olfactory Meeting Tübingen 1995' (international conference, 10 speaker, ca. 50 participants) |
ksharma997(at)gmail.com
Daniel.Kowatschew(at)gmx.de
asmaabuobied(at)yahoo.com
gunesbirdal(at)hotmail.com
shahzaib.hassande(at)gmail.com
msaltuerk(at)yahoo.de
Manish Tomar | Postdoc | |
Adnan Syed | Postdoc | |
Milan Dieris | graduate student | |
Vladimir Shiryagin | graduate student | |
Venkatesh S. Krishna | graduate student | |
Sharzad Bozorg Nia | graduate student | |
Ivan Ivandic | graduate student | Postdoc, UKB, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn |
Gaurav Ahuja | postdoc | Postdoc, ZMMK, CECAD, Cologne |
Veronika Zapilko | postdoc | Postdoc, Université de Genève, Département de médecine, Genf |
Kristina Auerswald | graduate student | Teaching Coordinator, University at Cologne, Köln |
Ashiq Hussain | graduate student | Postdoc, MPI, Martinsried |
Yuichiro Oka | postdoc | Assistant professor, Osaka |
Luis R. Saraiva | graduate student | ESPOD fellow, Wellcome Trust Sanger, Cambridge |
Yen-Yen Kwan | graduate student | Biotechnologist, Felda Biotechnology Centre, Bandar Enstek |
Aswani Kotagiri Kumar | graduate student | Postdoc, UCLA, Los Angeles |
Sunil Kumar Sukumaran | graduate student | Research Associate, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia |
Hans Ulrich Fried | graduate student | Head of Light Microscopic Facility, DZNE, Bonn |
Verena Oehlmann | graduate student | Product Manager, Roche Pharma, Basel |
Silke Argo | graduate student | Head of Management Office, National Genome Research Network, DKFZ, Heidelberg |
Jun Li | graduate student | Global Clinical Development Operation, Merz Pharmaceuticals, Frankfurt |
Stefan H. Fuss | graduate student | Associate Professor, Boǧaziçi, Istanbul |
Arzu Celik | graduate student | Associate Professor, Boǧaziçi, Istanbul |
Andreas Rummrich | graduate student | Department Head, Rheinische Akademie Köln, Cologne |
Franco Weth | graduate student | Research Associate, KIT, Karlsruhe |
Rainer W. Friedrich | graduate student | Senior Group leader and adjunct professor, FMI, Basel |
Herwig Baier | graduate student | Max-Planck Director, Martinsried |
Every Friday, 10 am, we discuss a current publication somewhat related to our research interests. The usual location is Zülpichr Str. 47a, Seminar room 0.46, ground floor. Interested students are welcome to join.
Zeit und Ort nach Vereinbarung, Anmeldung per e-Mail: sigrun.korsching(at)uni-koeln.de
Für Lehramtsstudenten (Hauptstudium) geeignet.
Wissenschaft ist nicht definiert durch ihr Thema, die verwendeten Arbeitsmethoden, oder die Leute, die sie anwenden. In diesem Seminar geht es darum, wodurch Wissenschaft, genauer die wissenschaftliche Methodik, definiert ist. Es gibt Vorlesungen und praktische Übungen. Bei Bedarf kann ein Schwerpunkt auf die Umsetzung im Schulunterricht gelegt werden.
Buch zum Thema: Stephen S. Carey's Buch „A beginner's guide to Scientific Method”, 3rd edition, ISBN 0-534-58450-090000
Time and place: by arrangement. Contact by e-Mail: sigrun.korsching(at)uni-koeln.de
Für Lehramtsstudenten (Hauptstudium) geeignet.
Science is not defined by topics, techniques of investigation, or the people employing it. In its core, science is a method. This seminar gives a definition of science and uses practical examples to teach good science and how to distinguish it from bad science and pseudoscience. The seminar comprises lectures and practical exercises.
Literature: Stephen S. Carey's book „A beginner's guide to Scientific Method”, 3rd edition, ISBN 0-534-58450-090000
Taught together with Arnd Baumann and Natalia Kononenko. The module contains lectures; lab work (project work); seminar; computer exercises; guidance to independent research; training on presentation techniques in oral and written form.
Zweiwöchiges Blockmodul, welches die Grundprozesse neuronaler Differenzierung anhand ausgewählter Beispiele behandelt. Mit vertiefenden Übungen zur Vorlesung.
Contribution to the teaching of the Genetics Institute.
The Korsching lab is a member of the Neuroscience Research Training Group (RTG 1960) "Neural Circuit Analysis on the Cellular and Subcellular Level". Additional funding may be available. Please inquire for possibilities.
Research projects at the Bachelor and Master level are possible. Please inquire about available time slots and topics.
Internships (also for international students) and practical courses (elective modules) can be performed. All internships and practical courses will have novel research topics. Please inquire.